http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowBooksTable/dpdpg/post.htm#325668Tue, 26 May 2009 11:17:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:325668Marius Hancu0http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowBooksTable/dpdpg/post.htm#325668http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-325668.xmlMind, you can have this read as: (a) How many books are there on the table? or as (a) How many books are there on the table? read with a pause, similar to: (a) How many books are, there on the table? (in which case "there" is "over there")http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowBooksTable/dpdpg/post.htm#325611Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:17:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:325611Grammar Geek1http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowBooksTable/dpdpg/post.htm#325611http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-325611.xmlIf we have already been talking about the books, I may ask a. But mostly, I would use b.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowBooksTable/dpdpg/post.htm#325396Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:17:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:325396Anonymous2http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowBooksTable/dpdpg/post.htm#325396http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-325396.xmlThank you, Barbara. Then, which do you use more often, (a) or (b)? (a) How many books are there on the table? (b) How many books are on the table?http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowBooksTable/dpdpg/post.htm#325387Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:17:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:325387Grammar Geek3http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowBooksTable/dpdpg/post.htm#325387http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-325387.xmlI really don't see a difference.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowBooksTable/dpdpg/post.htmSun, 26 Apr 2009 11:17:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:325386Anonymous4http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowBooksTable/dpdpg/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-325386.xmlIs there any difference in meaning or nuance? (a) How many books are there on the table? ("there is/are ..." structure) (b) How many books are on the table? (no "there is/are ..." structure) I need your help. Thank you.